Author/Authors :
Nevačinović, Enida Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics - University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina , Cerovac, Anis Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics - General Hospital Tešanj, Tešanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina , Bogdanović, Gordana Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics - University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina , Cerovac, Elmedina Department of Anesthesiology - Reanimatology and Intensive Care - General Hospital Tešanj, Tešanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina , Tupek, Tvrtko Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics - Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh”, Zagreb, Croatia , Zukić, Haris Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics - University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Abstract :
Background: To investigate the total survival of low birth weight infants (LBWIs) in the Federation
of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB and H) and selected by subgroups of birth weight (BW) and
gestational age (GA). Methods: This cross‑sectional study included newborns of both genders,
GA of 22–42 weeks and BW of less than 2500 g of 10 cantons territory of the FB and H. In the
examined period, 22,897 children were born in the FB and H, of which 669 (2.9%) had BW less
than 2500 g. Results: Surviving of LBWIs in the FB and H out of the 669 LBWIs in the first level
perinatal healthcare institutions (PHI) was 29 (4.3%), the second level was 286 (42.8%), and the
third level was 354 (52.9%). The total stillborn rate was 3.9%. The overall perinatal mortality rate
for all levels of PHI was 8.6%. The overall rate of early neonatal mortality of LBWIs in all three
levels of PHI in the FB and H was 12.7%. By the end of the first month of life (up to 28 days)
and to the end of the neonatal period, 385 (57.5%) of LBWIs survived, and 284 (42.4%) died. The
LBWIs by subgroups of BW up to 28 days had lower survival rates in second‑level PHI than infants
of the same BW subgroups (500–999 and 1000–1499) treated in third‑level PHI (P = 0.0089 and
P = 0.004). Conclusions: Our results show that B and H belongs to developing countries according
to perinatal mortality. A unique database system is necessary to follow progress and trends.
Keywords :
pregnancy , perinatal care , infant mortality , gestational age , Developing countries